Research and graduate education in EME spans petroleum engineering and reservoir characterization, electricity market design, grid integration of diverse fuels and technology, mining engineering and mineral processing, fuel chemistry and processing, energy conversion engineering, environmental safety, and health-related issues associated with the energy and mineral resource sector, among many others. Methodologies include experimental laboratory science, computational modeling and simulation, and advanced data analytics. Our faculty are leading scholars in methods of applied science, engineering, and economics for energy and mineral resource questions. The Ph.D. program in EME offers a unique graduate environment to develop your research expertise for the energy challenges of the future.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Energy and Mineral Engineering graduate students are encouraged to design a course of study that suits their individual backgrounds, interests, and needs in consultation with their advisors. Therefore, the EME graduate program keeps the core program and option courses requirements to a minimum, leaving students with an array of elective courses to choose from, in consultation with their advisor and thesis committee, to meet the total credit requirements.
Students without an M.S. Degree
For students wtihout a M.S. degree, 24 additional course credits must be taken. Beyond the 24 additional course credits, you must take 12 additional course credits, plus 12 credits of research. At least 18 credits of these must be at the 500 or 600 level. This will equate to 48 credits total.
If an option is desired, then 12 option course credits are required (this is included in the 48 credits total). Students who choose not to select an option only need to meet the total credit and core program course requirements. Because each thesis research problem is unique, the need for taking additional courses varies from student to student, and the student's thesis advisor and committee will make the final decision whether or not the additional courses should be part of a student's official course of study.
For details on any of the specific requirements for the Ph.D. degree, click on the topics below.
Students with an M.S. Degree
The required minimum number of total credits beyond the M.S. degree for the EME Ph.D. degree is 24, including 12 credits of research beyond the M.S. Of the remaining 12 credits, four core program credits are required. If an option is desired and was not declared for the M.S. degree, then 12 option course credits are required. At least 18 of the required course credits for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees must be at the 500 or 600 level. Students who choose not to select an option only need to meet the total credit and core program course requirements. Because each thesis research problem is unique, the need for taking additional courses varies from student to student, and the student's thesis advisor and committee will make the final decision whether or not the additional courses should be part of a student's official course of study.
For details on any of the specific requirements for the Ph.D. degree, click on the topics below.
Ph.D. students must take one (1) course (3 credits of core courses) from this list. Ph.D. students without an M.S. are required to take three (3) courses (9 credits of core courses) from this list.
- EME 501(3): Design Under Uncertainty in EME Systems
- EME 511(3): Interfacial Phenomena in EME Systems
- EME 521(3): Mathematical Modeling of EME Systems
- EME 531(3): Thermodynamics in EME Systems
- EME 551(3): Safety, Health, and Environmental Risks in EME Production
Students are not required to choose an option and may complete the base program in EME. However, a student who desires disciplinary identity may choose from among the following available graduate options:
Progress in the Ph.D. degree program in Energy and Mineral Engineering will require passing the Ph.D. qualifying examination, administered by the Graduate Faculty of the EME graduate program.
The qualifying exam is designed to assess a student’s potential for doctoral level research. Students are required to take the qualifying exam within three (3) semesters of being admitted to the Ph.D. program. Candidates will be allowed a maximum of two (2) attempts to pass the qualifying exam. The EME qualifying exam consists of a knowledge-based component (written) and a research-based component (written and oral). The detailed policies and procedures for the EME Qualifying Exam are provided in the document below.
All Ph.D. students, domestic and international, will undergo an assessment of English competency during their first year. The assessment will include the student's ability to read and comprehend technical literature, the ability to write well, the ability to make formal presentations and the ability to participate in scientific and technical discussions. The assessment will be conducted during the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination. Students must demonstrate English competency before scheduling the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination. If the expected level of competency is not demonstrated, students will be required to take certain English courses to improve their skills.
A Comprehensive Examination is required of all doctoral candidates by the Graduate School. The examination in EME is primarily an oral examination, administered by the candidate's Ph.D. committee. The committee will consist of at least three faculty members in the EME Program and at least one faculty member in a related field (outside the department). The committee chair will ordinarily be the candidate's thesis advisor.
The examination takes place in two phases. First, the student will give an oral presentation on some aspect of his/her research topic, including objectives, methods, and current progress. The second phase will consist of questions by the committee to determine the candidate's ability to synthesize his/her knowledge, especially in his/her area of specialization, and apply the tools learned to the solution of relevant problems.
The final step to obtaining a doctoral degree is the Ph.D. Thesis Defense. This process consists of a written thesis and an oral defense administered by the Ph.D. committee. Upon successful completion of the defense, the student will submit the final version of the thesis to the Graduate School after obtaining the required signatures from the advisor, the Ph.D. committee and the EME graduate program officer.